It is important to follow social rules because they provide stability, order, predictability, and cohesion in society. Social rules, or social norms, are unwritten shared expectations about how individuals should behave in specific situations. They help people know what is considered acceptable behavior, making social interactions smoother and less confusing. By following social rules, individuals contribute to cooperation, coordination, and the maintenance of social order. These rules also help shape social identities and signal belonging to particular social groups. More specifically, social rules:
- Facilitate cooperation and coordination in daily life by creating predictable patterns of behavior.
- Prevent confusion and discomfort in interactions by establishing commonly accepted ways of acting.
- Promote social cohesion and unity within groups and society at large.
- Encourage individuals to restrain selfish behavior and act in ways that benefit others.
- Help maintain social order even when external sanctions or punishments are weak or absent, often because people respect the rules intrinsically and want to conform to social expectations.
Without social rules, interactions would be chaotic, and the sense of belonging and collective functioning in society would be greatly diminished.
